THE WEST SHORE.
391
and Laving a light, sandy soil. Along a scries of lakes
near the lnrge one is a volley thirty by fiftwn miles in
extent, having a rich soil, good grass, water and timW.
Grain and vegetables yield iu abundance. There is plenty
of vacant land for settlement. Stock mi?ii:g is tho lidd
ing industry. Placer mining has boen carried on quite
extensively for twenty years, and numerous rich quartz
ledges have been located. A company has been organ
ized to open this region by a short railroad and a steamer
line on the Columbia River. There is much good agri
cultural loud along Columbia lake and river, across which
the railway passes in the northern portion of tho district
Llllooet, Clinton, Cariboo and Casslop.
The Lillooet District lies on the west side of the
Fraser above the mouth of Thompson River. It extends
for 100 miles along the Fraser, whose auriferous deposits
have been worked for many years, though not now on an
extensive scalo. It embraces soveral agricultural sec
tions, such as Lillooet Valley, six by four miles, in which
lies the town of Lilhxn't, and the valleys of Lakes Si-ton,
Anderson and Lillooet In the district is Bridge River
a considerable stream flowing into tho Fraser from tho
west.
. The town of Clinton lies in Clinton, or Cut-off, Val
ley, fifty miles northeast of Lillooet and east o' Fraser
River. It is an important station on the stago road from
Yale to the mines furthor north. Agriculture is carried
on quite extensively in the valley, also in the valley of
the Bonaparte further south. Both farming and mining
are engngod in by settlors at Rig Slido, Dog Crock and
points along the Fraser.
Cariboo District embraces the whole region of the
Upper Fraser above Lake La Hacho, and is the great
placer mining portion of the province. Tho chief town
is Bnrkorville, on Williams Creek, whilo Richfield, Stan,
ley, Quesnol, Soda Creek, Alexandria, Lake La Hacho,
Lake Williams and San Joso River aro mining camps
and agricultural districts. The annual gold product is
nl)out 1100,000. On the west sido of the Fraser is a vast
rolling prairie, lightly timtared, through which runs the
Chilcotin River. It is a good agricidtural region and
almost wholly unoccupied
The District of Cassiar occupies the northern end of
the province, and is a rich and extensive mining region.
Its population is COO, chiefly minors. The winters aro
rigorous and the summer season short, yet agriculture is
carried on successfully along Dense Lake, Deaso River,
McDnme Creek and Deloire River. Peace River and
other tributaries of the Mackenzie head in this region.
Upper Coast and Islands.
FltOM the head of Vancouver Island to the southern
extremity of Alaska the coast presents the same indented
and tortuous line, flanked by innumerable islands, though
without the great outlying land, except in the extreme
north, where the Qiieen Clmrl.it to group shelter for
many miles the inner islands which fringe tho const
The mountains border closely upon the sea, their sides,
as well ns the mountainous surfaces of (he adjnernt
islands, leing densely covered with timW. Tho xpu
lotion of this region is chiefly Indian, and they aro both
intelligent and industrious, performing nesrly all Mm
labor of the two industries-salmon canning and lumber
ing which havo gained a foothold there. The climate is
mild, tho thermometer in tho southern portion never fall
ing below zero, and but seldom doing so in the extreme
northern end. Tho rainfall is very great, tho mountains
of tho const causing tho first precipitation of rain from
tho worm, inoisturo-laden air moving inland from the sea.
Tim various centres of settlement and industry are
Rivers Inlet, on which are tho village of Weekoeno, two
canneries and a saw mill; Bella Coola, on Burko Chan,
nd, where is a Hudson Boy Company's ot; Bella Bella,
on Camplcll Island, tho site of another Hst; Skeena
River, with canneries at Alierdoen, Inverness Slough mid
Port Essington; two missionary stations and a small set
tlement at Mumford's Landing; Metlakohtln, on tho
TsimpHheean Peninsula, where are located a cannery and
a mission station, with a saw mill, barrel factory ami
other industries; Fort Simpson, a Hudson Boy jsist on
Portland Inlet, opposite tho southern extremity of Alaska!
Nass River, at the head of Portland Channel, where aro
two canneries, a sow mill and two mission stations. Tho
ssciol feature of this region is tho guocn Charlotte
Islands, an outlying group of large islands, three in
numW- Oraham, Moresby and Pnwwt They aro 170
miles long by 100 wide, aro mountainous ami heavily
timbered, and hsscss a warm, moist climate. Both mi.
thracito and bituminous oool hove lscn discovered there.
They npsar to Im U'tter adapted to stock raising tlmn
general agriculture. At Skidegoto, on (Irolmm Island, a
company is extensively engaged in producing dogfUi oil.
There are a Hudson's Bay Nwt ami a mission at Massott,
on (Iridium Island.
Cities or Urttli.li Columbia.
Vinoiil t, situated on the southeastern extremity of
Vancouver Island, just outside the eastern entrance to
tho Straits of Fuca, Is the chief commercial city, sis'inl
metrojsilis and seat of government of British Columbia.
It was founded iu 1S-I.1 by the Hudson's Bay Company ss
general supply xiint and headquarters for this re inn,
and was named in honor of the young queen who had I 'it
a few years ltcfore ascended tho throne of F.nglond. Tli '
site wns most wisely cImmcii, since it is tho ocean gateway
to tho province, and must ever command tho commerce
and receive tho tribute of tho interior and coat regions
alike. What San Francisco is tit California, or Portland
to Oregon, Victoria is to Itritinh Columbia, at once
the great market base of supplies and financial centre.
The advantage of location wa first demonstrated in lH.'.S,
when the rndleM throng of miners poured into the Fraser
River gold fields, ami SO.OOO of them winter! in ami
around tho city. Victoria then sprang suddenly into
commercial activity, and when, as tho excitement shalcd
and the greater portion of the caniMr departed, their
tented city vanishing as quickly ss it had sprung np, it